Business Education Partnership

The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce and HFM BOCES (Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services) have collaborated to form a BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (BEP). The BEP connects HFM BOCES school districts and programs with our regional businesses to help support a well-prepared, capable and adaptable workforce. In turn, these partnerships can help improve student achievement and educational competitiveness.

The BEP is looking for businesses to get involved with programs such as

· PTECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School, located in Johnstown) is a new model for secondary education that trades classrooms for “innovation spaces” and ditches lectures for group collaboration and hands-on learning. Here, students take the lead role in their learning, choosing pathways to their careers and take college-level, credit-bearing courses from their first year. PTECH aims to look and function more like a hybrid between college and the workplace. The 4- to 6-year sequence emphasizes individualized pathways to completion, workplace experiences, mentorship, in-depth project-based learning and real-world experiences. At the end of the program, students in completion will receive a High School diploma and a two year Associate’s degree from Fulton-Montgomery Community College completely free of charge. HFM PTECH pathways are in Advanced Manufacturing, Business Management, Information Technology and Health Sciences (Facebook: HFM PTECH, www.hfmboces.org/programs-services/ptech/).

· Ag PTECH, a PTECH school with an emphasis on Agricultural Studies and Environmental Sciences, located in St. Johnsville where students can choose from nine Associate’s degrees from SUNY Cobleskill (Facebook: HFM Ag PTECH, www.hfmboces.org/programs-services/agptech/).

· Tri-County Pathways, where HFM BOCES component district high schools work together to provide enhanced opportunities for students in targeted career programs (Facebook: HFM Tri-County Pathways, www.hfmboces.org/programs-services/tri-county-pathways/ ). Currently there are three school districts in the first cohort of this program – Johnstown (Academy of Gaming Arts & Sciences; Gloversville (Academy of Engineering, Architecture & Design); and Amsterdam (Academy of Civic and Military Leadership).

Ways in which businesses can get involved:

MENTORSHIPS Mentors are assigned to sophomore mentees, currently in the PTECH and Ag PTECH schools. Mentors are expected to communicate with their mentees 30 minutes a week using the online program MentorPlace. Mentors are also given the opportunity to meet face to face with mentees during the school year for networking events. Mentors help guide students as they learn the professional skills needed to be a good employee. In addition to MentorPlace, mentors can participate in “Third Thursday Professional Series” at both PTECH and Ag PTECH to talk with students about diverse topics—from professional skills, dressing for success, to communication skills and technology in the workplace.

GUEST SPEAKERS Guest speakers can be asked to attend monthly “Pathway Panel Discussions” at both PTECH and Ag PTECH to highlight each degree pathway available. You may also be called upon to talk about what you do, or how you got to your career paths to a class in the Tri-County Pathways programs.

ADVISORY COUNCILS Participate by serving on a Pathway Advisory Council by coming together with school administrators, teachers, guidance counselors and students to help formulate curriculum for specific pathways that will provide the best opportunities for career exploration while helping to shape the region’s workforce of tomorrow.

JOB SHADOWING Single- or multi-day work experiences where students learn about a job/career by walking through the work day as a shadow to a staff member at your business.

FIELD TRIPS/WORKPLACE TOURS Provide a tour of your place of business to students, teachers, guidance counselors, etc.

SPECIAL PROJECTS/WORKPLACE CHALLENGES Have students take on a special project or workplace challenge – something from which you will all learn!

Get involved with the Business Education Partnership to become a partner in education and invest in our region’s future!